Do any of you give turning lessons?

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PenWorks

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I had a friend bring his friend to my shop the other day. His friend came with a pen blank, glue, and a kit and wanted me to show him how to turn a pen. He is taking a wood shop class in college and the instructor turned a pen the other nite. So this guy was all geeked up about pen turning, you know the feeling :)

being my very nice self, i obliged. But every time I showed him how to hold the tool and do it, I wanted to run for cover or grab the damn tool from his hand, he scared me so bad. All I could think of was this is an accident waiting to happen. I don't mind doing demo's, but I really don't think I could be an instructor.

I would classify this guy as an experienced woodworker, approaching retiremnet age, but never used a lathe.

So, do any of you give lessons?
 
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Anthony, I used to do a class at a church twice a month. Did that for about 8 or 9 months. Had many of the same experiences! Most of the folks eventually got the jist of it, and most were retired or nearing looking for a hobby. I did not provide anything but me time, and charged $5 if they needed a slim line kit and some wood, nothing fancy. Some got pretty good, others, well.... I had one lady in particular who loved turning. I learned to loose my anullness and being very particular about how I expected things to go, and she eventually made some nice pens. But I could be across the room and just hear a sound and know she had done something. Biggest thing I tried to tell people was to keep the tool on the rest and try to make fine dust. That kept most out of too much trouble. [:D]
 
Closest to turning instruction that I was to my daughter and my wife. First things I taught them (other than wearing safety gear) is exactly what Paul mentioned...always keep that tool in contact with the toolrest.

Both came out fine with minimal "intervention" but I would say, I too cannot be an instructor [B)] Can't imagine how people do it with multiple "students". My hat is off to those guys.

Much as I regret, I can understand why some schools and colleges are closing their shop classes [B)]
 
My insurance man told me to stop----something about getting sued???????????
One guy/student still stops by once a year and we go fishing---he never did get the hang of turning.
 
Yep, along with welding and airbrushing. I am more than willing to pass along what I have learned in hopes of helping someone else get a step ahead. All at no charge. I have come to learn that things I take as being so easy or normal, many others find to be quite challenging!!!! In that is the task of teaching.
 
Well, now that I helped Dan and his Fiancee last weekend, I'd have to say yes I do. While I had them practice on a waste blank and some extra tubes, they had to move on to there pens right away. Not a lot of time for practice. I made the finishing cuts and had to deal with one blow out. Not ideal teaching situation, but it worked out fine.

The next person I plan on teaching is my daughter, but that is a year or two away.
 
I've had some friends over that I showed them how to make their own pens. Usually I demonstrate a little to get one blank started and then hand it over to them. If I see something wrong I demonstrate a little more. I also usually make the finishing cut as well as applying the CA finish. No troubles so far. (knocking on forehead/wood)[:)]
 
I've taught 5 people (4 fellow college students) to do it since I started turning a little over 6 months ago. I have 2 more that are waiting for me to get a chance to show them [:D]
I wouldn't say I give LESSONS, though. People get paid to do that! [:D]
 
I had a buddy that was visiting form Michigan once that I showed how to make a pen. I am kind of mean I will showed him how I do it. Told him and showed how I recomend that he does it then let him make his own choices.
His choice of wood for his first turning x-cut zebra. I warned him it is very difficult to turn that he of course ignored and once I got him going on the lathe went and started drilling a glueing a maple blank so that we would have something for him to turn once he blew it out. My recomendation for the tool he should use 3/4 roughing gouge his choice, the skew like me. My recomendation for speed second or third pulley on the jet mini, his choice fast as hell like me.
After he blew out the zebra he turned a maple pen on the third pulley with a roughing gouge.
I also will probably not make a good teacher, I figure that they are adults and I give them info and let them make their own choices as long as they are not really dangerous. I think most of us make it look so easy newbies just can't believe it is that hard, and many of us have forgotten what it was like to be a begginer since it is so easy for us now. Luckily my buddy is a wood carver so the concept of bevel rubbing is something he understands and I think that made it a lot easier.
 
I have taught a few people (friends and relatives) how to turn. I don't think I would do it as a business because of the risk of being sued. Your level of success as a teacher will depend quite a bit on how interested and attentive the student is.
 
I have taught several people how to turn. I started thinking about doing it for money after I had a couple guys take lessons from me, and then one of them went to a woodcraft class and told me he learned alot more from me (for free, of course). My father clued me in to the whole "liability" issue, and so I teach people for free. To date I think I have given away 3 vases, probably 10 bowls, and several pens (minus material costs). My theory is, if they are going to learn from me, they're taking something home from it. If they want to learn to turn a vase, then they take the finished product home. The only problem I have with that system is the time I put into their FREE vase, I could be making something for sale.
 
I've taught a few friends in my shop and am currently teaching turning classes at my third different Woodcraft (the military seems to move me alot). It is a little scary sometimes but it's also really rewarding when you see "that look" and you know they've been sucked into the vortex.[:D][:D][:D]
 
I had a friend come over once and showed her how to make a pen, and it was torture for me! It took all my self restraint to not rip the tool out of her hand and shove her away from the lathe! I guess I'm just not good at sharing or playing well with others. I do let my dad in my shop, but I'm not teaching him, he already knows how to do everything I do. But I learned from that experience that I should avoid volunteering to teach someone at all costs. It's just not for me! I just want to wrap my arms around all of my tools and protect them from the evil "others"![B)][B)]
 
Hi Anthony,

I do teach pen turning, mostly at the local Lee Valley store near me in Burlington Ontario. I teach methods I call Building on The Basics, it's a Friday night-all day Saturday class, we cover many details and kit options. The students make a capped pen with an acrylic blank (covering double sized tubes, working with acrylics and finsihing), then they make a custom pen with a cigar or slimline usually using a stabilized blank or acrylic.

One on One teaching is fine, at my shop with my rules. I do ask for a fee based on four hours.

I have done turning seminars at two AAW clubs, one in Burlington Ontario and one in Indianapolis.

I have taught many friends and even had my furniture club over one night and we each (8 guys) made a cigar pen.[:D]

I find that women are better students, THEY LISTEN...[:D] Most men think they know what they are doing, I'd say 50% do have an idea, the other 50% are dangerous....

I do not wear a face shield when I am working alone(usually safety glasses), but with students I always wear at least safety glasses...becasue you never know what they can do, and they do the strangest things that only you guys would believe..[:)]
 
Hello,

I've been a professional woodturner for almost twelve years and I have offered private instruction classes for several years in my studio. I enjoy teaching, so it's a natural for me. You learn quickly how to set up the classes for each students individual needs, abilities and skills.

For me, teaching is easy... In the last eleven years, I have performed more than 1,764 (1 hour+) woodturning demonstrations throughout the United States. All those demos really helped me to perfect and hone a teaching system that really works well from the newest beginner, to advanced turners.

I charge a professional service fee for my classes, and always have more interest than available slots for students each year. For me, teaching is a natural extension of my woodturning studios educational mission. Even with the fees I charge, I can make more money doing my regular studio work than teaching.

However, I still teach because I feel it's important to pass on the knowledge I've gained working as a professional studio woodturner and to help others experience the joys of woodturning. Take care and all the best to you and yours!
 
Originally posted by SteveRussell
<br />Hello,

I've been a professional woodturner for almost twelve years and I have offered private instruction classes for several years in my studio. I enjoy teaching, so it's a natural for me. You learn quickly how to set up the classes for each students individual needs, abilities and skills.

For me, teaching is easy... In the last eleven years, I have performed more than 1,764 (1 hour+) woodturning demonstrations throughout the United States. All those demos really helped me to perfect and hone a teaching system that really works well from the newest beginner, to advanced turners.

I charge a professional service fee for my classes, and always have more interest than available slots for students each year. For me, teaching is a natural extension of my woodturning studios educational mission. Even with the fees I charge, I can make more money doing my regular studio work than teaching.

However, I still teach because I feel it's important to pass on the knowledge I've gained working as a professional studio woodturner and to help others experience the joys of woodturning. Take care and all the best to you and yours!
Click to expand...


WOW, where do you find the Time?

I can not qoute you how many people I have taught...that number is amazing!
 
I didn't need to add my comments to this other than to benefit anyone in my area. I taught turners from kids to retirees. Some just don't get it and never will. I must say when I get one who doesn't get it I try to pass them on to someone else. Maybe a different instructor would be better for them. It is a great feeling though when someone comes to you for help.
 
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